Native Irish species face extinction

BUTTERFLIES, freshwater pearl mussels and salmon are among the native Irish species under severe threat, and in some cases facing extinction, according to a major Europe-wide report.

A survey, the first of its kind, looked at how more than 1,150 species and 200 habitat types protected under EU legislation were faring in 25 member states.

It found the survival chances had improved for only a small proportion of species over the five years to 2006. More than half the species were facing a very uncertain future, while the report was optimistic for only 17% of species.

Commission environment spokeswoman Barbara Helfferich, said the outlook for Ireland was “gloomy”.

The report pointed to the Marsh Fritillary butterfly as in particular danger of extinction as the rich grasslands it thrives in are vanishing owing to intensive farming. The freshwater pearl mussel is also under severe pressure, because of the pollution levels in our rivers, while the report foresees a worrying future for salmon despite a ban on drift nets.

Ms Helfferich said: “We can still turn the situation around in Ireland but it’s a matter of getting everybody to work together, including those involved in farming and forestry, and implement the legislation on protecting our biodiversity.”